(March 1, 2017)
Olympic High School was one of seven schools in North Carolina to
receive a grant from Duke Energy for a solar panel installation. The
$30,000 grant will provide funds to install a solar power system at
Olympic. The solar panels will be intertwined with classroom
teaching and learning at Olympic's NAF Career Academy of Engineering
& Advanced Manufacturing. Olympic was the only school in CMS chosen

Olympic's solar installation and ongoing energy production
for the grid will become an ongoing and sustainable source for
authentic project-based learning conducted in and out of the
classroom.

Schools applied for the grants last year.
Working with Raleigh-based nonprofit NC GreenPower and
modeled after its Solar Schools program, the initiative will
pay the installation costs for rooftop or top-of-pole
mounted systems on school property. The program also
provides monitoring equipment, training and curriculum to
students and teachers.

"These systems will give
students a chance to see solar power production firsthand
and allow them to learn more about this energy resource,"
said David Fountain, Duke Energy's North Carolina president.
"North Carolina is second in the nation for installed solar
power. These seven schools will now be part of the state's
success story."

"NC GreenPower is thrilled to
collaborate with Duke Energy on this initiative. As a small
non-profit funded by donations, our reach with our Solar
Schools program is limited. But through this partnership, NC
GreenPower can provide greater impact to schools and
students who will benefit from this technology," added Vicky
McCann, NC GreenPower vice president.

Any K-12 North
Carolina school served by Duke Energy Carolinas was eligible
to apply for the grant. NC GreenPower will use approved
solar installation companies to manage the installation
process.

With a renewable energy portfolio spanning
more than a dozen states, Duke Energy is one of the nation's
leading developers of renewable energy and has invested more
than $5 billion in wind and solar projects. The company owns
and operates about 35 solar facilities in North Carolina.

The Duke Energy program was part of a recent settlement
with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and
environmental groups.

About NC GreenPower

With
the mission of improving the quality of the environment in
North Carolina, the nonprofit NC GreenPower was founded in
2003 by Advanced Energy. NC GreenPower helps to connect
consumers with renewable energy and carbon offset providers
to create positive environmental and economic impacts for
our state. All projects supported by the program are located
in North Carolina.

In 2015, NC GreenPower launched a
new pilot to support solar PV installations at K-12 schools.
Contributions to NC GreenPower are tax-deductible. For more
information, visit: www.ncgreenpower.org.

About Duke
Energy

Headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., Duke Energy
is an S&P 100 Stock Index company traded on the New York
Stock Exchange under the symbol DUK. More information about
the company is available at duke-energy.com.

The
Duke Energy News Center serves as a multimedia resource for
journalists and features news releases, helpful links,
photos and videos. Hosted by Duke Energy, illumination is an
online destination for stories about remarkable people,
innovations, and community and environmental topics. It also
offers glimpses into the past and insights into the future
of energy.